Immune sensing of synthetic, bacterial and protozoan RNA by TLR 8

When bacteria or the pathogens that cause malaria invade living human cells, these cells can be very unwelcoming. They try to drive away the invader by releasing reactive oxygen species - a principle that is also used in toilet cleaners and disinfectants. The cell enters a state of emergency, places itself in a kind of quarantine and produces inflammatory messengers that attract and activate other immune cells. These immune cells can then kill infected cells or form antibodies against the pathogens and thus, ideally, fight off the infection in the long term. Researchers at the University of Bonn decode the function of the long-neglected immune sensor TLR8. Read the full press release in English or German by clicking on the respective language.